Injection mold gating



'April '14 1942,14 J. s. Rennv 2,279,380

INJCTIQN MOLD GA'II'INGv Y I Filed Jan. 28, 1939 s sheets-sheet 1 b HIS ATTORNEY.

April 14, '1942, J. s. Rm 2,279,380 l INJECTION MOLD G ATING Filed Jan. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR.

JAMES S. REID l HIS ATTORNEY.

April 14, 1942. J. S. REID lJEcTIoN MOLD GATING 3 .Sheevts-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2a, 1939 INVENT OR.

JAMES S. REID.

His ATTOREY.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 INJECTION MOLD GATING James S. Reid, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Standard Products Company, Port C tion of Ohio lnton, Ohio, a corpora- Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,362

A11 claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in the molding of .organic plastic materials, and particularly in the molding of thermoplastic materials by injection of the material into a mold cavity formed between suitable separable dies.

In injection molding of organic plastic materials, such for example as cellulose acetate, the mold cavities in the die blocks for different articles to be molded vary greatly in shape and size. Each variation presents a specifically diierent problem as to the most desirable location for the outlet or outlets of the gate or gates through which the material is to be introduced into the cavity. The die maker usually can be substantially certainA that good results will follow from the introduction of the plastic in one or certain ones of a few gate outlet positions; but he cannot tell in advance of making one or more test in- In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are fragmentary plan views of marginal portions of a die and a portion of its cavity, showing one arrangement of gate passages and selection means for use thereof. Fig. 4L is a fragmentary sectional view Vas indicated by the line 4--4 on Fig. 1. Figs. 5

and 6 are views corresponding generally to Figs. 1 to 3 showing a modified arrangement of selection passages in an adjustable die part. Figs. '7 and 8 are views corresponding generally to Figs. 5

and 6 showing a further modification in the sejections which is or are most effective or desirable from a standpoint of producing acceptable articles in quantity. For each eventual single entrance gate, one can machine two or more gate passages in one or both of the coasting dies between which the cavity is formed and test them for effectiveness, using for instance, -'tem'- porary plugs in all except one of each group. After determination by such trial of the most desirable gate outlet position, the less effective passage or passages can then be closed as by metal built up by welding, followed by subsequent remachining to finish the die or dies at the welded regions. Another alternative is to form only one gate at each presumably desirable region; and

then, if found ineffective, to remove the die or dies from the press and remachine it or them I to form new gate outlets, closing those found ineffective as by welding. n Such cut-and-try expedients are Very costly due to the care required in the machining operations and in the mounting and remounting of the dies accurately on the press. l

In View of the above, an object.` of the present invention is to provide an eiectiye solution to the problem above st'ated; and more specifically, to provide a system, method, and/ or mold apparatus which will enable predetermination of a sufficient number of gate outlets practically to insure the desired results by the use of a predetermined number of outlet positions, and subsequent selection of such number to the exclusion ofthe other or others, but without having subsequently to perform any machining operation, or to remove the die or dies from the press in order to block` the gate passage or passages which is or are not to be utilized in production molding.

lection passages of the adjustable part. Figs. 9 and 10 are views corresponding generally to Figs. 5 and showing a further modified form of adjustable part for gate selection, and Figs. 11 and 12 are views corresponding generally to Figs.l 9 and 10 showing a further modification of the specific form of selection means of Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a portion of a die block i is shown on which co-planar surfaces 2 and 3 are parting plane faces at a marginal portion of the die adjacent the cavity 5. The cavity can be of any possible shape and can be formed in one or more of the coactingdies.A For convenience in ejection of finished pieces from the molds, the gate and sprue passages preferably are formed-at the separation plane of the mold, as in said co-planar surfaces 2 and 3 ofvone of the dies; a sprue passage being indicated at 8.

6 indicates the injection-nozzle receiving indentation in the side of the mold, and this may be formed partially in the die block i and partially in the coacting die 4, as shown in Fig. 4, registration with the sprue passage 8.

Generally opposite the sprue passage 8 is a plurality of gatepassages indicated at 9, l0 and Il which are to receive the plastic material injected through the sprue passage to carry the same into the cavity 5. These passages 9, i0 and Il can be formed in one only of the mold blocks, as in the surface 2, and the outlets of the different passages are at those regions, one of which, as determined by the skill of the engineer or die maker, is likely to be. the optimum location for entrance of the plastic into the mold 'to secure v the best results with the particular cavity of it and the kind of material to be injected. An

experienced die maker can usually iind a suitable location if given as many as three choices.

In order to enable selective use of the gate passages 9, I and II relative to the sprue passage Il,y a die part I5, shown -as a rectangular block, may be slidably arranged as in a channel I6 complementary to the block I5 so that the block can be slid along the channel to different operating positions. The block I has a plurality of gate-passage-forming channels I9, 20 and 2l, which, in the arrangement shown by Figs. l to 3, diverge in suitable relationship so that by shifting of the block into three positions, the sprue passage can be connected with the three passages 9, I@ and II selectively and exclusively. In the position of the block I5 shown in Fig, 1, the passage 20 registers with passages Il and I0, and the passages 9, II and I9 and 2! are rendered inoperative; I9 and 2i being completely cut off at both ends. In Fig. 2, the passage I9 registers with 8 and 9, and the other passages are rendered inoperative or blocked. In Fig. 3, the passage I I only is rendered operative by registration of the selection passage 2i with the sprue and gate passages and II. With the arrangement just described, any number of test injections maybe made be'fore fastening of the part I5 in place, and the most suitable injection point, as to the cavity, thus determined. The block I5 is then locked in place by suitable means, such as with metal built up by welding at the base or sides of the channel and adjacent the ends of the block I5. Locking screws could also be used to x the block in final position. One such locking arrangement is shown in Figs, l, 2, and 3. A slot 50 is machine in the face 3 of die block I, to provide clearance for the head of a set screw 5I Which seats in a threaded bore 52 in die block I, said bore extending from the bottom of the slot to channel I6. When the desired alignment of any particular set of passages is secured, the screw 5I is turned inwardly to bear tightly against insert I5 and hold it in position as long as necessary. This arrangement permits any suitable lateral adjustment of insert block I5.

If desired, the ones of the channels t, il and II which are not to be used can be left open so as to serve as gas pockets, or may be closed at their outlets, against backing up of material thereinto from the mold cavity, by blocks which fit nicely into the channels and just fill them. Such could be welded or fastened into place without requiring any great amount of labor and without having to dismount the die block I from the press.

In Fig. 5, the passages 9', IIB and II are arranged similarly to the passage portions 5I,` It, and II of the main die block I, but the selection passage channels of the adjustable block I5', indicated at I9', 20' and 2l', converge toward the inlet regions ofthe passages 9' to II' and have a common outlet designated 23. Thus, with the block I5' positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the central gate passage I Il' is served from the sprue passage 8, and, in the full line indications in Fig. of the selection passages of the block I5', the passage 9' is served. In the broken line position of the selection passages of Fig. 6, the gate passage I I' is served. When using the system according to Figs. 5and 6. the selection passages ofthe block I5', which are not eventually to be used, can be welded shut at or near the common outlet 23 and the block I5' then remachined for proper nish. This requires only the removal .Y threaded hole.

and replacement of the block I5', but does not require disturbing either main die block.

Figs. 'I and 8 are illustrative of further selection possibilities affordable by the system hereof. In Fig. 7, the selection block I5 has a plurality of sets of selectiony passages, the passage portions of each of which sets are arranged to cooperate with a selected plurality of the gate passages 9' to I`I'., In the setting of the block shown by Fig. 7, the passages 9' and Il' are served by means of a set of diverging passages 25l of the` block I5. In another setting, as shown by Fig. 8, the passages 9' and la' are served through selection passages 26. In still another setting of the block (not shown), the passages III' and II' can be served as by the set of passages 2l. Addi' tionally, the block may have, on its under side or'in'suitable location, e. g. beyond the sets 25, 26 and 2l, passages arranged, for instance as in Fig. l, to enable selection of one only of the passages 9, IQ' and II' for communication with the sprue passage to the exclusion of both the others, The additional passages in the block I5'. are not shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Figs. 9 and l0 are principally to illustrate that the gate selection can be accomplished by other than a rectilinear movement of the selection part. As shown, a circular block 5@ sets in a complementary recess 3i communicating with the face 2 of the mold at the parting line, the block having its top face ush with the surface 2. Such block can be turnable to diilerent positions so that the sprue passage 3 serves the gate passages 9, I0" or II". As shown by Fig. 9, the selection passages of the block 3@ comprise a discharge passage portion 32 and branch portions 33, 345 and 35 which, upon turning of the block, can cause communication of one of these portions 33 to 35 with the sprue passage and simultaneously, the portion t2 with one only of the passages 9" to II'?. Fig. 9 shows the'setting of the circular block 3i! for serving the passage I", and Fig. 10, in solid and broken lines, indicates the other positions of the block il@ for serving the other gate passages d" and II". A hole 3i', Fig. 9, for a knock-out pin can be located on the under side of the die block in line with the recess into which the block 3b is iitted, whereby .to enable the circular block 30 to be taken out easily, and turned and reseated in the various positions. The circular block can be secured permanently into place, after the trial injections, by av suitable set screw or by welding as at the back, through the hole .'I'I. Such a locking arrangement is shown in Figs. 9, 10, l1 and 12. A slot 53 is machined in the face 2 of die block I. A threaded holes 5d extends from the bottom of said slot to the cylindrical bore which carries the circular block 30 (Figs. 9 and 10) or 3B' (Figs. 11 and 12). A set screw 55 seats in said When the desired alignment of any particular set passages is'secured, the screw 55 is turned inwardly to bear tightly against inl sert 30 or 39' and hold said insert in position as long as necessary. This arrangement'permits any desired rotational adjustment of the circular insert block. v

Referring further to Fig. 9, it will be apparent that upon each injection of material into the mold cavity 5, the branch portions 33 and 35 will be lled or partially filled by gate material. This same condition occurs with the use of selection passages such as I9', 20' and 2|' which converge toward the entrance region of the gates 9' to Il'.

In the use of the circular block, waste of plastic material and branching now of plastic in the gating can be obviated by making the selection channels in the circular block as at 40 and Il,l

Figs. 1l and 12. The channel 40 is diametrally arranged with respect to the axis of the block 30' and the channel 4l is parallel to 40 and at one side of the latter, so that with the block 30 turned to the position shown on Fig. 12 (channels 40 and 4I are illustrated in solid lines) the gate 9 is served and the others cut oil. With the block 30 nearly reversed in position circumferentially (see broken line illustration of the channel 4I), the gate il is served through 4I while the others are blocked. Optionally, the channel 4i could be formed on the under face of the block 30' and the block turned over to enable such channel to be used.

While the selection devices I5, 30, etc., are shown at the parting plane of the mold and in only one of the die blocks, it is obvious that the selection blocks and channels can be placed in both molds and can be located in positions other than at the parting plane. In many instances, it is necessary to inject the m-aterial from a direction substantially normal to the parting plane, and in such event, the gates corresponding to 9, l and H wouldsimply be bores through solid portions of a die block leading into the cavity at apparently desirable locations, and the selection block would occupy an appropriately shaped bore in the die block. The selection passages would be rendered communicable with the gate bores and a sprue bore corresponding in operative effect to 8 by appropriate adjustment of the selection block. It is not deemed necessary to illustrate this construction in view of the forms already described. Such selection block in a bore as just described could be shiftable longitudinally in the bore, or turn-able in the bore to align the selection passages with the gate and sprue passages, or both.

1. In a mold fpr forming articles from hardenable plastic material and comprising separable mold members shaped to provide a cavity between them, each having a parting plane face complementary to the parting plane face of the other when the mold is closed, one of said members having a plurality of gate channels leading to the mold cavity and a single sprue passage leading from an exposed portion of the mold member toward said plurality of gate channels, said mold member having an enlarged recess between the discharge end of the sprue passage and the receiving ends of the gate channels, a block in said recess substantially filling the same but adjustable to different positions in the recess, said block having through passages, one of the through passages communicating at respective ends exclusive with one of the gate channels and with the sprue passage in one setting of the block and another of said through passages communicating at respective ends exclusively with a different gate channel and said sprue passage in another setting of the block, whereby the block may be flxed.in position after selective testing of the gate channels as described and thereafter will supply all material injected through the sprue passage to the selected gate channel.

2. A mold for forming articles from organic plastic material by injection molding and comprising separable mold members having mutually cooperating meeting faces at a mold parting plane, said meeting faces being shaped to provide therebetween a mold cavity, one of said members having in its said meeting face a recess and supporting therein an adjustable block, said member also having a plurality of gate passages leading from diiferent portions of said mold cavity to different portions of said recess, and said member having a sprue passage leading from said recess to the exterior surface of said mold member, and passage means in said block adapted to be adjustably registered with said sprue and at least one of said gate passages while out of registry with at least one other gate passage.

3. A mold structure as in claim 2 wherein means is provided for fixing said adjustable block in position when'registration is effected between said sprue passage' and the most desirable gate passage.

4. A mold structure as in claim 2 wherein one passage only in said adjustable block is simultaneously in registry with said sprue passage and one gate passage to said mold cavity.

5. A mold structure as in claim 2 wherein said sprue passage and said gate passages are formed in the parting plane surface of said mold member and wherein said passage means in said block is formed in a surface of said block coplanar with said mold parting plane 6. A mold structure as in claim 2 wherein 'said adjustable block has a plurality of channels formed only on a face which is coplanar with the parting plane of the mold members, the corresponding cooperating surface of the other mold section being ungrooved whereby said channels become completely isolated from each other when the mold members are brought together into molding position.

7. In a mold for forming articles from organic plastic material by injection molding and comprising separable mold members having mutually cooperating meet faces at a mold parting plane, and said meeting faces being shaped to provide therebetween a mold cavity, one of said members having in its respective meeting face a recess and having therein a rotatably adjustable block, said mold member also having a plurality of gate passages leading from said mold cavity to said recess, and having a sprue passage leading from said recess to the exterior surface of said mold member, and passage means in said block adapted to adjustably register with s'aid sprue and with at least one of said gate passages while out of registry with at least one other gate passage. with said sprue and with said two gate passages.

8. A mold structure as in claim '7 wherein said sprue and said gate passages are formed in the parting plane surface of said mold member and wherein said gassage means in said adjustable block is formed in a surface of said block coplanar with said parting plane.

9. In a mold for forming articles from organic plastic material by injection molding, and comprising separable mold members having mutually cooperating faces meeting at a mold parting plane, said meeting faces being shaped to provide therebetween a mold cavity, one of saidv members having 'in its meeting face a recess, and supporting therein a rotatably adjustable block, said mold member also having a plurality of gate passages leading from said mold cavity to said recess, and having, further, a sprue passage leading from said recess to the exterior surface of said mold member, and a plurality of passages in said adjustable block, distinct and noncommunicating with respect to each other, said block being rotatably adjustable so that when one o1' said block passages is in registry with the said sprue passage and a gate passage, any other passage in said adjustable block is out of regist with said sprue and any gate passage.

vl0. A mold for forming articles from organic plastic materialby injection molding, and comprising separable mold members having mutually dooperating meeting faces at a mold parting plane, said meeting faces being shaped to provide therebetween a mold cavity. one of said members having in its said meeting face an elongated recess, and supporting therein a slidably adjustable block, said member also having a plurality of gate passages leading from diierent portions of said mold cavity to diierent portions of said recess and said member having a sprue passage leading from said recess to the exterior surface of said mold member, and passage means in said block adapted to be adjustably registered with said sprue and at least one of said gate passages while out 'of registry with at least one other gate pamage.

ll. A mold for.forming articles from organic plastic material by injection molding, and comprising separable mold members having mutually cooperating meeting faces at a mold parting plane, said meeting-faces being shaped to provide therebetween a mold cavitmv one of said members having in its said meeting face an elongated recess, and supporting therein a slidably adjustlable block, a plurality of passages` in said block arranged in -paired relationship, said member also having at least three gate passages leading from diierent portions of said mold cavity to different portions of said recess, and said member having a sprue passage leading from said recess to the exterior surface of said mold member, any two gate passages being adapted to be placed in communication with said sprue passage by slidably adjusting said block to place an appropriate pair of passages therein in simultaneous registry with said sprue and with said two gate passages.

JAMES S. REID.

- cERTIFIoATE oF coRREcTIoH.` tent ko. 2,279,580. April 1L, 192m.

.mms s, REID.

,It is hereby certified that error" appeers in the printed specification ofthe above 'numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2 second columh, line 57, for "holes" read hole; p'age, I irst ccnl'umn, line 55, claim 7, strike out *"with said spre and vunlthsriid two gate passngesJ.; line 57,. claim 8, for "gassage" read passage-r.; a'xzdthat the seidiLetf' bers Patent should be read with this correction therein that the Asani-e may confonn to the record of the case in the'Patent Office. signed and sealed this 26th day of nay, i. D. 191;2.

A Y nenryivaxirsdaler, (seal) Acting Gomission'erfot'l'htehte'; 

